We’re still suffering from lack of sleep in these parts, which makes it really hard for me to get going in the mornings. I need a full night’s sleep to feel at my best and most productive. I haven’t had many of those nights for about 2 1/2 years now. So it’s been taking me a while to get moving in the mornings.

That doesn’t always work when you have a toddler running around. Or deadlines.

But fortunately, today wasn’t one of those deadline days. So I took it easy in the morning and tackled some chores this afternoon. Once again, I roasted two chickens so we’ll have meat for the week. Only this time I went a lot heavier on the spices — and you can tell. The meat was a lot more flavorful this time.

While the chicken was cooking, I chopped veggies for tomorrow’s roast. I’ll pop it in the crock pot tomorrow morning and by the time we get in that afternoon from our errands, dinner will be ready. And I’ll also start stock from the chicken bones tomorrow, too.

Here’s what works the best for my stock:

Roasted chicken carcass, after taking off the meat.
Giblets.
Skin & pan juices from the roasting.
One onion, cut in half or quarters.
A couple of celery stalks.
One carrot, or a bunch of baby carrots.
Several garlic cloves.

The cooking time varies depending on how much time I have, but I at least cook it two hours. Preferably four or more.

The chicken was done just in time for supper, so we had some of that with some brown rice and sweet white corn (cooked from frozen in a bit of chicken stock from the last time).

I also did a bunch of dishes while waiting for the oven to heat up. And before I chopped veggies. Go me!

If I could only feel this productive every day, I might have a clean house. Let’s not get carried away now. A girl can only handle so much work in one day.